The Business Of Mining - A Brief Non-Technical Exposition Of The Principles Involved In The Profitable Operation Of Mines - By Hoskin, Arthur Joseph - INTRODUCTION - There is probably no line of human activity that is not beset with malicious and ignorant intruders. The fact that my occupation or business is redly legitimate seems often to stimulate the operations of these disreputable persons. Mining does not escape the application of this postulate. For ages, the industry has afforded most fertile opportunities for the machinations of the unscrupulous and the erring. Somehow, there weaves throughout the history of mining a sort of magnetism rendering us unduly susceptible to the allurements which are presented with every mining proposition. It is not, however, always intentional deceit that is perpetrated upon the unwary. Often, mining failures result from actual ignorance of the business upon the Before entering into a discussion of the economic features of the mining industry, it will be well to be sure that we understand, definitely, what is meant by mining. As one investigates the question, lie is bound to run across varying shades of meaning for the words Mine and Mining, and so we must pause long enough to define these words according to the best usages. A search through works on mining written at various periods reveals differing ideas that have prevailed among authors. Less than a hundred years ago, it was said that a mine consists of subterranean workings from which valuable minerals are extracted. One early writer said that a mine is one only when the operations are conducted in the absence of daylight. As time has created..........